Path of Exile 2 Beginner's Guide for Patch 0.5.0 — Where to Start in Return of the Ancients

Class Selection: Starter Recommendations

Patch 0.5.0 introduced two new Ascendancy classes well-suited for beginners:

• Spirit Walker (Huntress) — commands spirit allies. Minion-style gameplay is one of the most forgiving: your character stays at range while pets absorb punishment. Great for a first playthrough.
• Martial Artist (Monk) — masters illusions in melee combat. More demanding on positioning, but offers rich mechanics for deeper engagement.

How the Runes of Aldur League Works

In the Runes of Aldur league, every zone in the campaign and endgame contains a Remnant. Interacting with it triggers:

1. You see available runic recipes — these are the possible effects on your future item
2. You choose a recipe and activate the Remnant
3. Monster waves spawn — difficulty proportional to the recipe's power
4. After victory, you receive the item with the pre-selected properties

The key difference from standard crafting: you know what you'll get before the fight. This removes randomness and makes progress more predictable.

Endgame: Atlas and Fortress

After completing the campaign, you enter the Atlas — the endgame map with open progression. In 0.5.0 it works differently:

• Start from the central Fortress node — this is your Atlas entry point
• Unlock neighboring regions by finding and completing maps
• Invest points in the Atlas Passive Tree — specialize in mechanics you enjoy (Breach, Delirium, Ritual, etc.)
• Goal: reach the final endgame bosses through your chosen progression path

Starting Gear Priorities

• Resistances: keep all resistances at cap (75%) — critical at all stages
• Life: look for max HP on every gear slot
• Movement Speed: at least +20–25% on boots

Useful Resources

Official patch notes: pathofexile.com/forum. Community: r/pathofexile2. Build databases: Maxroll.gg and PoE2 Fextralife Wiki. Trade market is built into the game (Shift+Alt+click an item).